A place where restoration project-type threads can go to avoid falling off the main page in the WIX hangar. Feel free to start threads on Restoration projects and/or warbird maintenance here. Named in memoriam for Gary Austin, a good friend of the site and known as RetroAviation here. He will be sorely missed.
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Lacey Lady B-17 44-85790

Sun May 19, 2013 1:34 am

Here are a few pics to show what we have been up to on the Lacey Lady. We will add more later. The badly damaged tail turret has been crated up to be sent out for restoration. The damage is a result of a delivery truck running into the tail of the Lacey Lady a few years back. The engines that were removed from airframe last summer have been moved into our hanger in Aurora Oregon. This is the 1st time they have been inside since they left the factory in 1945. They are also quite possibly the lowest time 1820-97's in existence with only about 37 hrs total time since new. The nose section is finished. The cockpit is disassembled and in the jig and is the next target for restoration. We are also currently working on our ball turret getting it ready to display. All the work being done on the airframe is being done to airworthy. When the restoration has been completed we plan to fly her. The rest of the airframe will be removed from it's perch this year. It will not spend another winter outside. Although the restoration unfortunately stalled out a number of years ago we are once again moving right along. We will try to post pics as we can showing our progress. We gladly accept donations. We can also be followed on our facebook page wings of freedom/ milwaukie bomber

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Re: Lacey Lady B-17 44-85790

Sun May 19, 2013 7:18 am

Fantastic! Good luck with this project. Can't wait to see her in the air...!

Re: Lacey Lady B-17 44-85790

Sun May 19, 2013 9:43 am

Great news! Another opportunity to have a B-17 in the air... Looks like everything is being done right.

Re: Lacey Lady B-17 44-85790

Sun Jun 02, 2013 2:40 pm

Wish I lived closer, I would love to help you guys put her in the air!! Good luck with everything

Re: Lacey Lady B-17 44-85790

Wed Jul 17, 2013 1:07 pm

Great to hear that things are back on track! Keep us updated with pictures. :drink3:

Re: Lacey Lady B-17 44-85790

Sat Aug 10, 2013 7:35 pm

This is one of the new bomb bay parts were are having made. This is the catwalk truss. Ray Moore is doing the work and it is looking good

http://i1318.photobucket.com/albums/t64 ... 7cec6f.jpg

Re: Lacey Lady B-17 44-85790

Sat Aug 10, 2013 7:38 pm

These are the window frames for our cockpit roof as it is being drilled apart so the roof and window frames can be rebuilt. Big thanks to Tom Wilson for doing the work

http://i1318.photobucket.com/albums/t64 ... d0c006.jpg
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